While God may control the elements that He has an extremely difficult time controlling his prize creation...man. Man always seems to be getting himself into trouble with his fellowman and with God. Man constantly detours down dark avenues of emotionalism and skids down the open highways of mindlessness. At times, man's ability to feel, think and act poorly is an embarrassment to us all. Wrote, Hal Borland, "You can't be suspicious of a tree, or accuse a bird or a squirrel of subversion, or challenge the ideology of a violet." But, with man, anything treacherous, infamous, or incredulous is oft times possible. In this garden called life, man too often becomes his own crabgrass.

There's an old saying, "History repeats itself." In 1868, Charles Dickens publishedhis novel, "The Tale of Two Cities." The time was 1789. The setting, the French Revolution. Dickens begins his novel with these words...

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair..."

Things haven't changed much, have they? Scientifically and medically, our progress and knowledge in the past 100 years has been tremendous. But the struggle for men's bodies, minds and souls goes on...at an ever increasingly, ruthless pace. More of the worlds' population are in bondage today than ever before. Every new generation continues to make the same old mistakes. Mankind never seems to learn.

We have noticed that in at least one marriage which we have given close scutiny over the the pass 47 years, that not every day has been on "the up and up." Some weeks, there have been a few days that were downers all the way.

With so many marriages ending in divorce these days, we wonder if perhaps some marriages could could not have been salvaged had not both partners vowed, at their beginning, to stick together through "thick and thin," rather than abandoning their matrimonial ship at the sign of the first distress signal or grey cloud.

Said James Howell, "Faults are thick where love is thin." As we progress down the halls of matrimony may we wisely and consistently eliminate faults that are thick, and accentuate the love we have for our spouses.

SUN STAND STILL While attending a banquet in the grand city of Versailles, Ben Franklin listened to the British Minister propose a toast to King George, III, in which he likened the king "to the sun," and then listened as the Minister proposed a toast to King Louis, XIV, comparing him to "the moon." Then the great statesman, Franklin, arose and offered this toast: "George Washington, Commander of the American armies, who like Joshua of old, commanded the sun and moon to stand still, and they obeyed him." Through the centuries, many have given Washington and the Founding Fathers much honor and praise, which they richly deserved. They brought forth this nation, while promising life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These were truly great statesmen. We shall forever be in their debt.

ON PARTING When was the last time you left your home and your partner or children... With angry words or ornery actions With feelings, blistering and searing?Wrote John Paul Richter... "Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It may be that you not meet again in this life." A few phrases that have taken on a major importance in our family's farewell communiques include... See you in a little while Have a good day Remember that I love you I really do appreciate you I feel ho-so close to you Wrote Joesph L. Townsend... "Let us oft speak soft words to each other At home or where 'ere we may be..." May your partings always be sweet ones.

THE GUEST ROOM Several years ago, my wife, Donna, wallpapered our guest room with a print of large, bold flowers. Colors included yellows, greens, reds and pinks, all over the place. There was no place for a gloomy face in the guest room. The room was so cheerful, it entreated us to become guests in our own home. For you see, we often took ourselves for granted. We didn't always straighten up the place for ourselves. We didn't cook that extra special meal for ourselves. We occasionly failed to see that we are the most important guests we shall ever entertain in our home. We should remember to treat ourselves royally. We should become the most important dignitaries ever to enter our home. Let us all treat ourselves as the important guests that we are, and enjoy our time together.

In an 1898 issue of "Harper's Weekly." Williston Fish wrote "I leave to children exclusively, but only for the life of their childhood, all and every, the dandelions of the fields and the daisies thereof, with the right to play among them freely."

With Mr. Fish, we too, would leave... The beauty of the butterfly The lowing of cattle The coolness of a shade tree The feather of the baby owl The morning glories and tulip trees And honey suckle And acres of thistles to be picked and blown We would go for as long as possible and as far afield as possible among the daises and the dandelions of the world and we would see and be seen...as little children.

TO BE One of the greatest psychological writers of all time was William Shakespeare. We read or watch his plays with continued awe. We witness the tremendous insights which he possessed concerning the thoughts and feelings of the inward man. Take just one line of his, for example... "To be or not to be, that is the question" What a splendid question for 21st man.

Shall we permit life, or prevent it? And, with what right? Is life worth living? If we choose "to be," what or whom shall we become? And by what means shall we use to get where we want to go? Hamlet's search was not singular. His search is everyman's search. "To be or not to be." That certainly is "the question." Our answer determines our destiny.

SPLITTING HARES An unknown author has written, "If you chase two rabbits, both will escape." Elijah the prophet put it another way, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him."(1 KINGS 18:21) In his lifetime, Joshua also came to understand this same principle, for he wrote, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord." (Josuha 24:15)

And Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters..." While me may let those rabbits get away, we can ill afford to let eternal life do the same.

COUNTING FOUR LEAF CLOVERS Back in March (2013), around St. Pactrick's day, I was doing my usual late night tossing and turning, trying to go to sleep. I even tried counting... four leaf clovers. After counting for awhile, it dawned on me that I probably over looked a few. I still couldn't go to sleep. So I just quietly laid there, and eventually dozed off. No particular thoughts came to mind.

But, for some reason, as I awoke in the morning, these three words popped into my head...